Cloth spreading machines



Dec. 27, 1960 Filed Aug. 5, 1955 W. DEICHMANN CLOTH SPREADING MACHINES 7Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR WA; 75;? .DE/(HM/lN/V ATTORNEY Dec. 27, 1960 w.DEICHMANN CLOTH SPREADING MACHINES T Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 5, 1955Dec. 27, 1960- w. DEICHMANN CLOTH SPREADING MACHINES 7 Sheets-She et 3Filed Aug. 5, 1955 NQ 3 a. wmv

a 3% QEQ R INVENTOR W44 75/? .DE/CWM/INN ATTORNEY 1960 -w. DEICHMANN2,966,353

CLOTH SPREADING MACHINES 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Aug. 5, 1955 INVENTORMLTERDE/Cf/Mfl/IN BY a ATTORNEY Dec. 27, 1960 w. DEICHMANN CLOTHSPREADING MACHINES 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Aug. 5, 1955 IHIH" 22 h N. TM.RW Y 26 Him 2 n 4 MY B Dec. 27, 1960 w. DEICHMANN CLOTH SPREADINGMACHINES 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Aug. 5, 1955 whmm Dec. 27, 1960 w.-DEICHMANN ,96 53 CLOTH SPREADING MACHINES Filed Aug. 5, 1955Sheets-Sheet 7 .RN Y E m N R 2 m E NH FI Q CLOTH SPREADING MACEHNESWalter Deichmann, Mineola, N.Y., assignor to Cutting Room AppliancesCorp., New York, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed Aug. 5, 1955,Ser. No. 526,739 28 Claims. (Cl. 276-31) This invention relates to clothspreading machines.

One of the great problems in spreading cloth mechanically upon a surfaceto produce superimposed layers of identically the same extent has beento eliminate, to as great a degree as possible, the stretching anddistortion of the fabric as it is pulled from the supply and then spreadupon the surface where the multiple layers are being formed andpositioned. In different types of machines, a device which spreads thefabric upon the surface forms a fold, and requires mechanism to reverseits direction of fold formation, where a single continuous length offabric is laid down substantially continuously upon the surface. Theoperation requires that after a layer has been deposited, and the foldedend is to be left at the limit of travel, the entire apparatus must bereversed in its direction of movement. The fold forming device must beremoved from the fold thus just formed, as the apparatus now moves awayfrom that fold in the direction opposite to that in which the fold justended was formed. For the next fold, reversal of the direction in whichthe fold is to be formed must be effected.

It is an object of the invention to provide apparatus for forming foldsin fabric which is being deposited upon a surface in successivelysuperimposed layers, to permit the facile drawing of an increased amountof fabric from the supply immediately as the apparatus is reversed inits direction of movement and as the fold-forming member commences itsmovement away from the end of the layer just finished, so that suchadditional amount of fabric so drawn from the supply is absorbedimmediately in the new layer thereafter continuously laid down, and thuswill reduce and even eliminate any appreciable tension upon the fabricas it is spread thereafter.

Rounded surfaces have been found most desirable for use in feedingfabric to a surface. It is an object of the invention to providefold-forming means wherein rounded surfaces of fairly large diametersare utilized in guiding the fabric. In certain of the combinations, ithas been found desirable to use rods or rolls for forming the end folds,and in conjunction with the subsequent steps of clamping the end foldsin position without the use of pins or similar devices in the definitionof the layer being spread upon the surface, or in anchoring the layer inplace after its entire length has been spread.

In cases where a single member is utilized to form a fold in whicheverdirection the carriage is moving over the surface, the fold-formingmember generally is reversed close to the time when the carriage onwhich the foldlorming member is mounted approaches the limit to whichthe fold is being brought. Thus, this reversal occurs close to the endof the travel of the carriage toward a limit, not as the carriagecommences the movement to start a layer. Thus a long length of fabric,in substantial tension, stretches behind the carriage. With all of thistension, additional fabric is required at the moment of reversal toaccommodate the movement of the fold-forming device in its rotation. Thepulling of this additional fabric from the supply still furtherincreases the tension upon the fabric, from which may result distortionof the end fold being formed, and distortion of the layer which has justbeen laid down.

It is an object of the invention to provide apparatus which will reduceto as great a degree as possible or even eliminate tension at thecritical moment in the formation of a layer, when the end fold is beingdefined to determine the length of the spread layers.

The angle at which the fabric approaches the fold former has beenobserved to be of great importance in relation to these various factors.Where means are provided for holding the fold after it has beendelivered to the end of the spread layer, if the fabric moves down tothe fold former at a large angle, interference ensues with the properoperation of any fold holding means, in its movement into retainingposition at the end point.

It is an object of the invention to provide a device in which the fabricapproaches the fold-forming member at a very sharp angle, in order toreduce or even eliminate interference by the fabric itself with theproper formation of the fold.

It is an object of the invention to introduce, into the fold-formingdevice itself and as a part of the foldforming elements, sharply roundedsurfaces which will interpose little to no resistance to proper feedingof the fabric during spreading.

It is an object of the invention to provide a device which may berotated for presenting a fold in either direction of movement of thecarriage over the table, wherein the fold-forming device is rotated toits new direction immediately after a fold has been defined and left atan end position on the table, and as the carriage moves away from thatfold-forming position.

It is an object of the invention so to reverse the foldforming device atthe time that a fold has just been deposited, and as the carriage movesaway from the end position at which the fold has just been deposited,that no appreciable tension is created in a length of the fabric beingspread, in order to eliminate the effect of feeding extra fabric at theend of a layer-spreading step, and so that the fabric may be fedproperly during the reversal of the fold-forming member without anyappreciable tension.

It is an object of the invention to provide apparatus for conjunctionwith the fold-forming device so that, at the end point when the fold isbeing laid down and clamped on the table, additional fabric will not berequired for the reversal of a fold-former approximately at the momentwhen the fold formation is being defined finally, in order that noappreciable tension is being applied to the long layer of the fold justdefined.

It is an object of the invention to provide positive feeding means whichnormally is proportional to the movement of the carriage over thesurface, wherein a substantial quantity of cloth may be supplied atcritical moments, regardless of the speed at which the carriage ismoving over the table, and wherein such substantial quantity maythereafter be compensated for as the carriage continues its movementover the table.

It is an object of the invention to provide balanced tensioning means inthe feed of the fabric from a supply, where such means cooperates with afeeding means in such a manner that an additional supply may be drawn atcritical moments from a supply, and thereafter be com pensated for, oroverfeeding may be compensated for automatically by reduction of thefeeding elfectiveness of the feeding means.

It is an object of the invention to provide positively driven means forfeeding fabric from a supply, on a carriage of the type indicated, withmeans to compensate for inequalities in the amount delivered by thefeeding means which otherwise should have a constant relation to themovement of the carriage over the table. Such a feeding means ordinarilymight tend to overfeed, but means are provided automatically tocompensate for this overfeeding by making the feeding means increasinglyineffective as the surplus of fabric fed tends to increase.

It is an object of the invention to provide means for positively feedingthe fabric constantly in one direction regardless of the direction inwhich the carriage is moving, together with means for positivelyrotating a foldforming device at a limit of travel of the carriage overthe table, wherein the means for rotating the fold-forming device may beuncoupled and coupled regardless of the continuous operation of thefabric-feeding means, and regardless of the reversing action of thefabric-feeding means in accordance with the direction of movement of thecarriage over the table.

It is an object of the invention to provide a carriage, operating meansof the type indicated including positive means for feeding fabricregardless of the direction the carriage may be moving over the table,and means for reversing a fold-forming device, in which the forcenecessary for moving the carriage over the table is reduced to aminimum, so as to require but little effort on the part of an operatorwho pushes the carriage along the table without assistance from meanssuch as an electric motor.

It is an object of the invention to provide a device for clamping foldsbeing defined at the end of movement of a carriage, which device movesin a substantially straight line vertically, and wherein a clamp barforming a part of the device is maintained in a plane substantiallyparallel to the surface upon which the fabric is being spread.

It is an object of the invention to provide, in conjunction withclamping devices of the type indicated, means whereby the clamping barmay be raised so that devices such as cutting machines, or the like, maybe permitted to function without the necessity of removing the clampingdevices from the surface.

It is an object of the'invention to provide a fold-forming device whichmust be rotated in order to change the direction in which it is to forma fold, and wherein this rotation occurs immediately at the"commencement of formation of a layer as the carriage moves from one endof the table toward the other, and wherein the fold-forming memberitself, during its rotation, is lifted away from the fabric beingdeposited on the table to prevent distortion of layers already spreadupon the table.

It is an object of the invention to provide means for rotating afold-forming member wherein such rotating means is activated, but notactuated, as the carriage approaches the end of its movement toward alimit of travel, wherein such rotating means merely is made ready forits actuation as the carriage commences its return movement from thatlimit, wherein the fold forming member is restrained against actuationduring that last part of the movement of the carriage to its limit.

It is an object of the invention to provide apparatus which functions inwhich ever direction the carriage may be moving, for initiatingoperation 'of means for rotating a fold-forming device, but, by reasonof the difference in the direction of movement of the carriage,functions to rotate the fold-forming device in different directionsautomatically.

Other objects of the invention will be set forth hereinafter, or will beapparent from the description and the drawings, in which are illustratedembodiments exemplifying the invention.

The invention, however, is not intended to be restricted to anyparticular construction, or any particular arrangement of parts, or anyparticular application of any such construction or arrangement of parts,or any specific method of operation or use, or any of the variousdetails thereof, even where specifically shown and described herein, asthe same may be modified in various particulars, or may be applied inmany varied relations, without departing from the spirit and scopeof theclaimed invention, of which the exemplifying embodiments, herein shownand described, are intended only to be illustrative, and only for thepurpose of complying with the requirements of the statutes fordisclosure of an operative embodiment, but not to show all the variousforms and modifications in which the invention might be embodied.

On the drawings, in which the same reference characters referred to thesame parts throughout, and in which is disclosed such a practicalconstruction,

Fig. 1 is an elevational view, illustrating apparatus cmbodying theinvention, shown mounted upon a surface such as that of a table, thetable being broken away in part, and one of the cloth clamping means orcatchers being shown broken away;

Fig. 2 is a view, to larger scale than Fig. l, of a portion of thecarriage and parts therewith associated, the apparatus being shown inone of its positions, parts of the apparatus being broken away, andparts only of one of the catchers being shown;

Fig. 2a is a detail elevational view of a portion of the apparatus foreffecting reversal of the fold-forming device in one of its positions;

Fig. 2b is a view similar to Fig. 2a, with the parts in a differentrelationship;

Fig. 3 is a crosssectional view, to enlarged scale, and taken on ahorizontal plane substantially transversely of a portion of the carriageon the line 3--3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a vertical cross-sectional view, substantially on the line 4-4of the Fig. 3, and illustrating details of the fabric-tensioning,fabric-folding, and fabric-feeding means;

Fig. 5 is an elevational view of the carriage shown in Fig. 1, butwithout the catchers, and as seen from the side opposite from that shownin Fig. 1, and with many of the operating parts not shown, butillustrating the elements of the take-off of driving energy from a wheelof the carriage;

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view, taken to enlarged scale, andsubstantially transversely of the carriage on the line 6-6 of Fig. 5, toillustrate details of the driving mechanism for the fabric-feedingmeans, and for effecting rcversal of the folding means;

Fig. 7 is a detail cross-sectional view, taken to enlarged scale, andsubstantially on the line 7-7 of Fig. 6, to illustrate details of thedriving mechanism shown in Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 vis a view similar to Fig. 7, but taken substantially on the line88 of Fig. 6, and of but a small portion of Fig. 6, to illustrateanother portion of the driving mechanism;

Fig. 8a is a detail vertical cross-sectional view, and to enlargedscale, showing a modified form of the sprockets and overrunning clutchesof Fig. 6;

Fig. 9 is a cross-sectional view, taken to enlarged scale, andsubstantially on a vertical plane extending transversely of Fig. 1 onthe line 99, to illustrate part of the mechanism which makes efiectiveand times the means for reversing the fold-forming device;

Fig. 10 is a transverse vertical cross-sectional view,

to enlarged scale, and taken substantially on a plane ex tendingtransversely of Fig. 1 on the line 10-40, to illustrate a part of themeans for reversing the fold-forming device;

Fig. 11 is a detail cross-sectional view, substantially on the line11-11 of Fig. 10, to illustrate a portion of the means for reversing thefold-forming device;

Fig. 12 is an elevational view, to a larger scale, of one of theclamping devices or catchers shown in Fig. l, certain parts being brokenaway, the catcher being shown in a pair of positions which that catcherassumes in relation to operating parts of the carriage;

Fig. 13 is a plan view of the catcher shown in Fig. 12, the portionsofthe carriage being not shown;

Fig. 14 is a detail cross-sectional view, substantially on the line14-14 of Fig. 13, of a portion of the operating elements of the catcher;

Fig. 15 is a view, in elevation, but showing the essen' tial portions ofthe catcher and of the fold-forming device to illustrate the manner inwhich the catcher cooperates with the fold-forming device and thecarriage as it approaches an end position of rest for holding a foldproperly in position;

Fig. 16 is a view of the parts shown in Fig. 15 with the exception ofthe right-hand catcher, with the parts now having reached an associationdifferent from that of Fig. 15, so that the parts are in readiness for afurther spreading operation; and

Fig. 17 is a further view of the parts of Fig. 16, illustrating furtheraction of the parts as catcher and carriage move apart from the positionof Fig. 16, and as the foldforming device is reversed.

On the drawings is shown a spreading machine 18 which has a carriage 12which moves over a surface such as the top of a table 14; the carriagemoves between limits, in this case shown as defined by a pair of clothclamps or, as sometimes known in the industry, catchers 16 and 18.Carriage 12 may be mounted upon a plurality of wheels 20, 22, 24 and 26.Wheels 28 and 22 may be of any desired type; for instance, they may berubber tired, in order that they may roll directly upon top surface 28of the table without marring that surface. Wheels 24 and 26, on theother hand, may be such that they will cooperate with a track 30 (Fig.9) which may be positioned in any suitable manner, as, for instance, bybeing secured at the edge 32 of table 14. Wheels 24 and 26 may beprovided with grooves 34 positively to engage track 30 in guiding thecarirage over surface 28.

Carriage 12 provides means for transporting a supply of sheet material,such as cloth. The supply may take the form of a roll 36 of the cloth;the cloth 38 is arranged to be fed down to spreader mechanism 40 bypositive feed ng means 42, under control of automatic tensioning means44. Mechanism 40 guides the cloth down upon surface 28, and iscontrolled by reversing mechanism 46 which serves to change the positionof the fold-forming element 48 of the spreader mechanism atpredetermined intervals in the movement of carriage 12 with relation tocatchers 16 and 18.

Carriage 12 may comprise a pair of frame members 50 and 52 which mayserve to define the side walls of the carriage. A plurality of bars andshafts may extend between frame members 50 and 52, to stiffen thestructure. Certain of the shafts, while serving to stiffen the carriage,may also enter into the structure and operation of different mechanismsas here described.

Fastened or otherwise rigidly sustained with relation to frame members50 and 52 in any suitable manner are a pair of uprights 54 and 56. Inslots 58 which open upwardly from each of the uprights are positionedrollers to function for supporting the ends of a rod 60 upon which iswound roll 36.

Either as a part of each of frame members 58 and 52, or secured theretoin any suitable manner, is a bearing support 62. In each support 62 areprovided bearings for shaft 64 of a roll 66. Spaced downwardly and toone side from shaft 64 are the bearings for a shaft 68 upon which ismounted roll 70. Roll 70, which is splined or otherwise secured to shaft68 to rotate therewith, may have a facing 72 of friction material, suchas rubber, cork, or the like. Facing 72 is disposed to provide positivetraction upon cloth 38 which is to be drawn positively thereby from roll36. Cloth from roll 36 is threaded over roll 66 and then under roll 70.

Spaced from roll 70 along supports 62 are bearings for a rod 74. Fixedto rod 74 are a pair of arms 76. The arms are positioned with relationto rod 74 so that the larger portion extends toward roll 70. At the endsof arms 76 in the direction of roll 70, a tubular member 78 is fixed andextends between the arms. At the shorter ends of arms 76, a rod 88 isfixed and extends between the arms. Rod 88 is heavy enough tocounterbalance the weight of arms 76 and member 78. Additional weightmay be added to or adjacent rod 80 to cause member 78 normally to riseto the position shown in Fig. 1 when a light load is being applied tomember 78 in the operations to be described.

From the under surface of roll 70, the cloth is drawn up over, aroundand down from member 78 to foldforming element 48. Thus, as fold-formingelement 48 spreads fabric upon the table, the fabric is drawn from roll36 and over member 78. If the amount of cloth required for properspreading upon the surface of the table at any time is greater than theamount fed by roll 70 in the manner to be described, member 78 will bedrawn downwardly against the action of the balancing weights. Roll 78may be so driven, in the manner to be described, as to feed slightlymore cloth than necessary properly to serve element 48. Therefore, theaction by whtch member 78 is pulled downwardly will occur only atcertain intervals in the operation of the apparatus.

Likewise, when for any reason the amount of fabric being spread upon thesurface by element 48 is less than the amount being fed by rotation ofroll 70, cloth 38 between roll 66 and roll 70 will become loose, andlose its tangency to roll 78. Traction of facing 72 upon the clo.h willbe lessened or completely eliminated, at least for a short interval,while element 48 will continue to spread fabric upon the surface untilthis slack is eliminated.

in order to rotate roll 78 constantly in one direction, and thus to drawfabric from roll 36 in the same direction at all times, no matter whichdirection carriage 12 is moving over surface 28, axle 82 of one wheel 28may be extended through its frame member 52; on such extension asprocket 84 may be secured to axle 82. Frame member 52 may have abearing for a shaft 86 which extends across the carriage from member 52to frame member 50. At member 50, shaft 86 may be coupled to drivereversing mechanism 46 in the manner to be described.

Keyed to shaft 86 are a pair of sprockets 88 and 98. A chain 92 extendsaround sprockets 84 and 88, to drive shaft 86 in accordance with therotation of wheel 28. Thus shaft 86 will rotate in one direction whenthe carriage moves over the table surface in one direction, and in theopposite direction, when the direction of movement of the carriage overthe table surface is reversed.

A hearing may be provided in frame member 52 for a countershaft 94 uponwhich is keyed a sprocket 96. On shaft 68 on the side of frame member 52away from roll 78 is a sprocket 98 which is loosely mounted on shaft 68.A chain 188 is trained between sprockets 98 and 98 so that the chainengages sprocket 96 in such manner that, while sprockets 98 and 98rotate in the same direction, sprocket 96 is rotated in the reversedirection. Countershaft 94 extends beyond sprocket 96 to have anothersprocket 182 keyed thereto at its free end. Shaft 68 extends beyondsprocket 98 to receive a sprocket 184 loosely mounted at its end. An endcollar secured at the end of shaft 68 retains sprocket 104 againstmovement off shaft 68. Chain 106 is trained around sprockets 182 and104.

With sprockets 98 and 104 on shaft 68 are secured the elements of a pairof overrunning clutches 108 and 110. On the drawing (Fig. 6), the partsof the overrunning clutches are shown as parts distinct from theirrespective sprockets. As shown in Fig. 8a, however, the construction maybe such that the sprocket in each case is hollowed out so that thesprocket body serves as the annulus, while the rest of the parts of theoverrunning clutches fit into the cavities of the respective sprockets.

Thus each clutch may include a ring 112 splined or otherwise secured torotate with shaft 68. Such ring may be seated in the cavity 114 in thesprocket, as shown in Fig. 8a. An outer annulus 116 may form a part ofclutch 108, and may have a hub 118 secured or otherwise made to movewith sprocket 98. In Fig. 8a, annulus 116 is in fact the sprocket body,or, rather, the inner face 120 of the wall forming cavity 114. The innerface 122 of annulus 116 (Fig. 7), or inner face 120 (Fig. 8a), is formedwith fiats 124 which diverge outwardly from the cylindrical form offaces 122 or 120. Thus, when annulus 116, or sprocket 98 secured to theannulus or having the annulus formed as a part thereof, is rotated inthe direction indicated by arrow 126, rollers 128 retained between fiats124 and ring 112 will tend to roll and move loosely to the enlargedspaces at the diverged ends of flats 124. When, however, the directionof rotation is reversed, rollers 128 will become wedged between ring 112and flats 124, and will drive shaft 68 in the direction of rotation ofannulus 116.

On the other hand, clutch 110, with its ring 112, may be constructed inthe same manner, either with an annulus 130 which has a hub 132 securedto or made integral with sprocket 104, or a cavity similar to cavity 114maybe provided in sprocket 184. Annulus 138 or its corresponding partmay have faces 134 which diverge in a direction opposite to flats 124.As indicated before, sprockets 98 and 104 are rotated reversely, asconsidered in connection with the drive from shaft 86, countershaft 94and sprocket 102. Thus, when carriage 12 is moving in one direction, oneof the overrunning clutches will drive shaft 68 in a predetermineddirection to pull fabric from roll 36, while the other clutch idles;when the carriage now moves in the opposite direction, the otheroverrunning clutch will become engaged, and will drive shaft 68 in thesame direction in which it had just been driven by the first overrunningclutch which latter clutch now idles. Thus, no matter which directionthe carriage moves, movement of the carriage over the table pulls fabricfrom roll 36 in the same direction.

Extending vertically at and spaced laterally inwardly from each of framemembers 50 and 52 are a pair of fixed guide rods 136. Slidable upon rods136, at the frame members, are carrier plates 138 and 140. Fixed to anend face 142 of carrier plate 138 is a chain 145. Chain 145 is trainedaround sprockets 144, 146 and 148. Sprockets 144 and 146 are providedsuitable hearings on frame member 50 so as to be substantially in linevertically so that chain 145 will parallel rods 136. Chain 145, onvertical movement, raises and lowers plates 138 and 140, and with it themechanism therewith associated. Sprocket 148, positioned closelyadjacent sprocket 14 6 at the upper portion of frame member 58, may bemounted on a stub shaft 150 which may be extended through frame member50 to receive an operating knob 152 on its outwardly extending portion.Knob 152 may be utilized for manually raising and lowering plates 138and 140 and their associated mechanism, as the operator may desire.

Mechanism may be associated with chain 145 and its operating sprocketsautomatically to lift plates 138 and 148 as the spreader mechanism pilesup layers of fabric on the table. Shaft 154, which carries sprocket 144,may be extended to a position outside that face of the machine adjacentthe operator to have a gear 156 secured thereto. Gear 156 in turn mayengage a smaller gear 158 on a countershaft 168. Countershaft 160 mayhave a ratchet 162 secured thereto. In the manner shown in Patent No.2,520,895, a pawl 164 to engage ratchet 162 may be carried upon an arm166 which normally is held retracted by means of a spring (not shown).When carriage 12 approaches one of the catchers, arm 166 may engageagainst a suitable projection from the catcher, or some device mountedupon the table for that purpose, and will function to drive pawl 164 andthus move ratchet 162 to rotate gears 156 and 158 and thereby move chain145 to lift plates 138 and 140 a predetermined amount. Means forgraduating the amount of movement imparted to ratchet 162 by pawl 164may be provided, but need not here be described, such mechanism beingshown in sufiicient detail in Letters Patent No. 2,520,895.

Each of plates 138 and 146 may have a bearing in which is mounted a stubshaft 168. Secured to each shaft 168 at one side of each of plates 138and is an arm 170 which may have secured thereto or as a part thereof acollar 172 through which shaft 168 may extend. Collar 172 may be securedto shaft 168 by any suitable means. A pair of round bars 174 and 176,which may be heavily polished, are extended between arms 170. Carried bycollar 172 at a positionclose to each of plates 138 and 140 may be afinger 178 which rotates with shaft 168 in a plane so that, at a pair ofits positions the finger will engage a pin which may be secured in eachof plates 138-and 148 for that purpose. Arm 170 is spaced away from itsplate 138 or 140 by collar 172 sufficiently to clear the end of its pin188, but, as indicated, finger 178 will engage .pin 180 which thus formsa limit for rotation of the finger in either direction. Thus finger 178and pin 180 provide stop means for determining the degree of rotation ofarms 170, and of bars .174 and 1'7 6 carried thereby.

The limiting effect provided by engagement of finger 178 with pin 180appears in Figs. 15, 16 and 17. Cloth 38 is brought down from tensioningmeans 44 and is threaded between bars 174 and 176. In Fig. 15, parts ofthe apparatus are illustrated in positions they assume as the carriageapproaches the limit of travel to the left, where catcher 16 is about toengage the cloth upon bar 174. The operation of the catcher and itsrelation to fold-forming element 48 will be described in greater detaillater. It is to be noted, however, that the parts are now positionedwith finger 1'78 at one of its limits of travel, in engagement with pin180. In this case, bar '174 is below bar 176, and is in advance of bar176 in the direction in which carriage 12 is traveling to complete thecycle in cooperation with catcher 16.

In Fig. 16, catcher 16 has fallen into contact with bar 174, andcarriage 12 has been reversed in its direction of travel upon the tablesurface. Bars 174 and 176 still maintain their relative positions for avery short portion of their travel, at least until that catcher 16 hascompleted its removal of a fold 182 of material from bar 174. Then, byoperations and mechanism to be described, foldforming element 48 isrotated by reversing mechanism 46. This stage is shown in full lines inFig. 17. Finger 178 leaves pin 180; arms 1'70 rotate past pin 188, andbar 176 now moves into the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 17,where it is in the lower position, and is now ahead of bar 174 in thedirection in which the carriage is moving over the table.

It is important to follow the path of cloth 38 in these variouspositions. Although the cloth is being fed continuously substantiallydirectly downwardly at all times from tensioning means 44, the cloth, inFig. 15, is caused to assume almost a right angular bend to form a fold182 positioned well in advance of bar 176. Yet despite the fact that thefabric still has the same path of movement directly downwardly fromtensioning means 44 to fold-forming element 48, in Figs. 16 and 17, evenas element 48 is reversed, the cloth assumes again substantially thesame sharp fold formation, but in the opposite direction, when bar 176presents the fold in the direction in which element 48 moves over thetable surface after such reversal. At the end position shown in thedotted lines in Fig. 17, finger 178 has again become engaged against pin180, but now on the opposite side of the pin. Element 48 has not quitepassed through a rota tion of 360 to effect this result. In each endposition, the respective bar 174 or 176 is sufiiciently spaced in frontof its associated bar 176 or 174 so that the particular catcher towardwhich it is travelling may properly coordinate therewith.

In order to impart the requisite rotation to element 48 in properlytimed relationship to the different stages of travel of carriage 12 overthe table, shaft 86, heretofore described as extending across thecarriage, passes loosely through an opening 184 in frame member 50. At aposition closely adjacent opening 184, a pivot pin 186 is fixed to framemember 50 to provide a support for an arm 188. At one end, arm 188 mayprovide a bearing for the end of shaft 86. Although arm 188 is pivoted,and thus will have slight arcuate movement, carrying the bearing ofshaft 86 with it, this movement is slight enough, in relation to thedistance between frame members 50 and 52 so that shaft 86 may rotateWithout binding in its bearing on arm 188.

Mounted upon shaft 86 adjacent its end is a gear 190 which is free torotate upon shaft 86 except as it is limited by means to be described. Acollar 192 fixed to shaft 86 prevents lateral movement in one direction.A plate 194, pinned to shaft 86 on the side of gear 196 away from collar192, prevents lateral movement in the other direction. A pair of pins196 and 198 may be secured to plate 194 to extend inwardly from face 200toward gear 190. Secured in end face 202 of gear 190 may be a pluralityof pins 204, 206 and 208. A spring 210 may be distended between pins 198and 208. Spring 210, tending to bring pins 198 and 208 toward eachother, normally serves to cause plate 194 and gear 190 to move togetheras a single unit. Since plate 194 is secured to shaft 86, gear 190normally would rotate with shaft 86. If, on the other hand, shaft 86 isrotating, and resistance be interposed to resultant movement of gear190, gear 190 could be stopped against rotating with shaft 86 at leastfor a limited amount of movement of shaft 86. The result would be thatspring 210 would become distended up to a predetermined limit whichwould be determined by engagement of pin 196 or with either pin 204 or206, according to the direction of rotation of shaft 86.

The normal position (Fig. of gear 190 is where it is raised away from agear 212 so that there is no driving connection between them. This iseffected by elements associated with arm 188. Gear 212 is secured to ashaft 214 which is provided a bearing in frame member 50. Gear 212 is inline with gear 190, but, as just indicated, the two gears normally areout of engagement. To shaft 214 is also fastened a sprocket 216. A frame218 is mounted to swing on shaft 214. Frame 218 functions as an arm,carrying a shaft 220 at its lower end. Upon shaft 220 are secured a pairof sprockets 222 and 224. Swingably mounted upon shaft 220 is an arm 226the lower end of which pivots upon shaft 168. Upon shaft 168 is secureda sprocket 228.

A chain 230 is trained between sprockets 216 and 222; a chain 232 istrained between sprockets 224 and 228. As plates 138 and 140 rise andfall, under control of chain 145, frame 218 and arm 226 compensate forthese changing positions while the ends of frame 218 and arm 226 swingupon the fixed pivots provided by shafts 214 and 168, respectively. Thusno change in the rotational position of fold-forming element 48 willresult from the lifting and lowering of plates 138 and 140, and suchrotational movement will occur only by rotation of gear 212. Shaft 168may be extended beyond arm 226 to provide for securing thereto anoperating handwheel 234. Thus it is possible to adjust the position ofbars 174 and 176, if such necessity arises, when gears 190 and 212 arenot enmeshed.

Gear 190, in Fig. 1, is shown lifted clear of gear 212 by arm 188 whichhas been moved to one of its limits of movement. At that end of arm 188removed from the bearing for shaft 86, a pivot is provided for a link236, which has an end 238 which fits into and is retained in a socket240 in the upper end of a Y-shaped member 242. In socket 240, andagainst end 238, is retained a spring 244, the action of which is totend to drive link 236 out ofsocket 240, and at least normally to engagethe link against an end wall of the socket so that link 236 and member242 will function as if they were of one piece.

Member 242 is Y-shaped, having arms 246 each of which is provided with aslot 248 at its lower end. Into slots 248 are engaged pins 250 and 252carried upon a toggle plate 254. Plate 254 is pivoted at 256 upon aportion of frame 50. A pair of springs 258, substantially parallel toeach other, extend between anchorages upon member 242 and anchoragesupon plate 254. The anchorages for springs 258 on plate 254 aresubstantially equidistant from pivot 256. In the normal position (Fig. i

1), when plate 254 is held in balanced position by springs 258, plate254 and member 242 are drawn toward each other so that pins 250 and 252are in abutment against the closed ends of slots 248. The tendency ofsprings 258 is such that if plate 254 is moved out of this balancedstate, the plate, when released from the unbalancing force, will tend toreturn to the position shown in Fig. 1.

In Fig. 2, plate 254 is shown moved out of the normal position. In suchcase, pin 250 is forced upwardly, while pin 252 moves downwardly almostout of its slot. The upward movement of pin 258 acts upon member 242 tolift it, and, through link 236, to rock arm 188. Arm 188 will cause gear190 to approach and contact gear 212. If the gear teeth are setproperly, the gears will intermesh. If the outer faces of the teethstrike, spring 244 will provide the necessary buffer so that the teethwill not be damaged. Since shaft 86 is rotating continuously during themovement of the teeth toward intermeshing relationship, the teeth ofgear 190 will be displaced sutficiently so that the gears may, under thebuilt up force in spring 244, fall into engagement. Also, spring 210will permit a degree of displacement between shaft 86 and gear 198 ifthe teeth of the gears touch hard enough to stop rotation of gear 190for a limited period. As will be seen further, there is a limited periodin which gear 198 will be expected to rotate without actually drivinggear 212. To prevent gear 198 from bottoming its teeth hard between theteeth of gears 212, a set-screw 268 is carried by an extension 262, andis positioned to engage the under face 264 of a portion of frame 58.When set-screw 268 engages face 264, gear 198 may not travel any deeperinto gear 212; spring 244 takes up any additional force applied bymember 242, the member moving with relation to link 236 for thatpurpose.

The rocking of plate 254 is effected by the movement of a bar 266 whichis mounted to slide lengthwise with relation to the carriage. Bar 266may be supported for such movement by being carried upon pins 268 whichproject from frame 50, and extend through slots 270 formed in the barfor that purpose. Bar 266 carries an angle iron 272 which provides ahorizontal flat face 274. At the vertical leg of iron 272, a pin 276 isfixed and extends (Fig. 9) toward the frame, and engages in a slot 278at the lower end of plate 254.

Bar 266 is in line with adjustable stops 280 which may be provided oneach of catchers 16 and 18. When the carriage approaches a catcher, itsstop 28th, which has been properly adjusted for that purpose, as, forinstance, by means of adjusting screw and lock nut 282, stops furthermovement of bar 266 with the carriage. The carriage itself may continueto move, but bar 266 now slides upon pins 268. Pin 276, through itsengagement in slot 278, rocks plate 254 upon its pivot 256, causing theplate to move sideways. The pin 250 or 252 (which may be either of thepins, depending upon the direction of movement of the carriage) which ismoved upwardly by this rocking action, pushes against the end of itsrespective slot 248, and thereby lifts member 242, rocks arm 188, andthereby moves gear 190 into position to engage with gear 212.

However, at this time the carriage has not as yet come 11 to rest at theendof its movement into cooperation with the particular catcher, butcontinues its movement. No rotation should be imparted to fold-formingelement 48 during this last part of the carriage travel, as well asduring the initial interval as the carriage moves'away from that catcherto commence the next cycle. Also, as pointed out heretofore, gears 190and 212 do not immediately intermesh in all cases. As shaft 86 continuesto rotate in one direction as the carriage continues to move, gear 190will be rotated to a position where its teeth necessarily will intermeshwith the teeth of gear 212. Spring 210 will serve to prevent delivery ofsufficient energy to cause gear 190 to rotate gear 212 during the motionof the carriage until it comes to a complete stop. Therefore, although adegree of rotation of shaft 86 and plate 194 may take place in this lastportion of carriage movement, and also in the beginning portion as thecarriage begins its movement away from the limit, that motion will notbe sufficient to stress gear 190 to move gear 212 as pin 196 will nothave come into engagement with either of pins 204 and 206.

On a bracket 286 forming a part of or secured to frame member 50 islocated a pivot 288 upon which an arm 290 is pivotally mounted. Pins 292and 294 may be secured on arm 290. A pair of bars 296 and 298 areprovided with slots 300 and 302 adjacent their upper ends; these slotsare fitted over pins 292 and 294 so that the bars may have limitedmovement with relation to the pins. Each bar also has a slot 304 at itslower end. Pins 386 and 388, secured to frame member 50, extend throughslots 304. Bars 296 and 298 are intended to slide under gravitationalforce to effect certain of their functions. First, however, therelationship of finger 310, which extends from arm 290, should beconsidered.

Finger 310 may have a cam end 312 which is presented in proximity toface 314 of gear 212. A pair of pins 316 and 318 project from face 314;the pins are positioned so that, on rotation of gear 212 in onedirection or the other, one or the other of pins 316 and 318 will rikefinger 310. The particular pin 316 or 318 which is effective dependsupon the direction of travel of the carriage; this is also true as tothe particular 'bar' 296 or 293 which will be positioned to drop down inline with bar 266 to prevent its displacement from the position to whichit has been moved by its engagement with the catcher.

After gear 198 has dropped into engagement with gear 212, and thereafterwhen the carriage is mov'ed in the direction of arrow 320 (Fig. 2), gear212 will rotate in the direction indicated by arrow 322. In that case,pin 316 will move with gear 212 until it strikes cam end 312 (Fig. 2),lifting finger 310, and, with it, bar 298 which will have dropped onmovement of bar 266. Pin 294, for this purpose, will rise until itengages the upper end of slot 302 in bar 298. The action of arm 290 inlift ng bar 29 8 is such that the lower end of bar 298 is lifted free offace 274 of angle iron 272. At the same time, pin 292 has been lowered,and no longer engages the upper end of slot 300, so that bar 296 now(Fig. 2a) rests upon face 274 and is ready for the operation ofthercarriage after it reaches its catcher in the opposite direction ofmovement.

When the lower face of bar 298 is moved above face 274, the springaction resident in springs 258 is released, and plate 254 will be movedto its normally balanced position of Fig. 1, driving bar 266 beneathboth bars 296 and 298.

Now bars 296 and 2.98 will remain in the positions just defined becausefinger 310 will remain engaged by pin 316, and since, when the partshave reached that position, gear 190 will automatically have beendisengaged from gear 212, and the parts will remain so positioned untilthe next actuation of bar 266 by the stops at the catcher toward whichthe carriage is now moving.

In or der' to assure that am" 2% wilt atalltimes tend to return toabalanced condition, a spring 324 is extended from a point on arm 290vertically above the centerof its pivot288 to an anchor point 326 on arm188 directly vertically above the point of engagement with arm 290.Spring 324 will tend to counterbalance the small weight 'of finger 310,and permit gravity to have full play in the operation of bars 296 and298 except where, as just described, the individual bar has been raisedand is being held against dropping by its respective pin 292 or 294.

Now, when the carriage reaches the other catcher, bar 266 will be causedto'slide until bar 296 falls into position (Fig. 2b) to latch bar 266against return. When the carriage is reversed in its, movement, pin 316will move away'from cam end 312, releasing finger 310 so that bar 298'may'come to rest on face 274. Gear 212 will now rotate :in the directionopposite to its previous motion until pin 318 will engage cam end 312.The result'which now follows is that finger 310 is depressed. Bar 298remains at rest on face 274, but pin v292 engages the end of its slot300 to lift bar 296 free of angle iron 272 so that bar 266 may beretracted by toggle plate 254 under the action of springs 258.

The rotation of element 48 will have been completed as the gear 190 isdisengaged from gear 212; element 48 will have moved under this controluntil its finger 178 engages pin 180.

Once gears 190 and 212 are engaged, and the carriagehas movedsufficiently away from the respective catcher, gear 190 will rotatesufiiciently relatively to plate 194 so that pin 196 will engage one orthe other of pins 204 and 206, according to the direction of movement ofthe carirage, and against the action of spring 210 so that the gear 190will then drive gear 212. The train of chains and sprockets will nowcause shaft 168 to rotate, and with it, arm 170 and bars 174 and 176 offold-forming element 48. Such rotation will comprise less thanacompleterevolution. The time during which gears and 212 remain intermeshed forthis purpose is determined by finger 310 of arm 290, in the mannerdescribed. Each of catchers 16 and 18 may be constructed substantiallyin the same manner, except as it is necessary to provide for parts inpositions reversed at the ends of the table, where the parts may beopposites in their form. In Figs. 12 and 13 catcher 16 is illustrated ashaving a base 328. A pair of ears 330 maybe provided adjacent the edgeof base 328 to carry pins 332 for supporting an upright wal l 334adjustably with relation to base 328. Such bases are disposed atopposite sides of the table; upright walls 334 are supported in positionby means of stay rods 336 aswell as other rods to be described which mayenter into the operation of the catcher. A

As a part of each upright wall 334 is a vertical substantiallyrectilinear opening 338 having opposed machined faces 340 and 342. Faces340 and 342 are substantially parallehbut are displaced from each other.A pair of roller bearing wheels 3'44 and 346 carried'upon a rod 348separately engage against faces340 and 342. Thus the wheels, rollingupon their respective faces, do

not engage an opposite face, and thus dragging is eliminated so that rod348 positively will be guided in substantially a vertical path.

A link 350 at each side, pivoted to rod 348, extends upwardly to a pivot352 at a position intermediate the length of a bar 354. Bar 354 at itsrearmost point is pivotally carried upon a rod 356 which extendstransversely of the catcher. Carried on rod 356 and depending therefromis a link 358. At its lower end, link 358 is' carried upon stay rod 336.A stiffening rod'366 extends between links358 which are located atopposite sides of the catcher. Just above rod 336 at 362 is pivoted oneend of a link 364 which has its other end supported -upo1rrod3'48. Thusis set up a substantially straight line 13 mechanism for transmission ofthe vertical movement of rod 348 in opening 338.

Across bars 354 may be extended a stifiening bar 366. Bars 354, beyondwall 334, are offset at 368 toward the table edge (Fig. 13). At the endsof bars 354 are pins 370 upon which are pivotally mounted brackets 372.Secured to brackets 372 and moving therewith are forwardly extendingarms 374. Extending between the two arms 374 at the opposite sides ofthe table is a fiat bar 376. To the bottom face of bar 376 there may besecured, by any suitab'e means, a pad 378 of substantially compressiblematerial, such as sponge rubber. This pad extends for the entire lengthof bar 376 and is substantially centrally disposed with relation to thatbar, extending beyond the lateral edges of the bar (Fig. 13).

Carried by and fixed to rotate with rod 356 are brackets 380. From apivot point 382 on each bracket 380 a link 384 extends forwardly tobracket 372 at which link 384 is provided a pivotal connection 386. Byproperly determining the length of link 384, and positioning pivot 382with relation to the center of rod 356 in the same relation as pivotalconnection 386 is located with relation to pivot pin 370, the bottomface 388 of pad 378 will be maintained substantially parallel to thetable surface with which it is intended to cooperate.

Further to compensate for the movement of the members therewithassociated, and to assure to as great a degree as possible a straightline movement of face 388 of pad 378 in a substantially vertical line isa link 390 pivoted to bracket 380 and to wall 334. The dimensions andpositions are calculated so that bracket 380 is caused to move withdefinition so as to impart to link 384 the necessary motion so that face388 not only will be parallel to the table top, but also will rise andfall substantially along a line perpendicular to the table top.

Pivot point 370 may be provided by a pin which extends to one side oflink 384 to receive a roller 392 on its outer extension. As shown inFig. 12, rollers 392 are in position to be engaged by the top face 394of a pick-up finger 396. Fingers 396 are pivotally mounted in pairs(Fig. 4) upon pins 398 on plates 138 and 140. At the end 400 of theparticular finger, a roller 402 is positioned so that, when plates 138and 140 are at their lowermost positions, the finger may rest and rolleasily upon the tabletop surface.

As plates 138 and 140 are lifted in the manner heretofore discussed, thefingers will hang downwardly, but will be limited in the degree to whichthey thus can depend. A stop lug 404 is provided upon each of plates 138and 140, to receive a set-screw 406 threaded through the lug foradjustment with relation to a lug 408 on finger 396. The adjustmentsetting of screw 406 may be such as to provide the optimum angle forface 394 for engagement by roller 392, for guiding the roller properlyup along face 394, in order to lift bar 376. Since bar 376 will beresting upon the folds of fabric which have been formed by element 48,it is essential that the lifting action be smooth and vertical, so thatthe folds will not be distorted out of the piled up condition, and sothat, as the folds are liberated from the pressure of pad 378, nomovement of the cloth will occur.

As carriage 12 approaches more closely to wall 334, bar 376 will beraised more and more, and rollers 392 will move closer and closer topositions just over pins 398. When the rollers reach that portion offace 394, the fingers will tip to a substantially horizontal position,at which time a set-screw 410 in lug 412 on plates 138 and 140 willlimit the movement of the finger. Since screws 410 move in a verticalpath, and, when fingers 396 are resting upon those screws, theirmovement vertically also involves a horizontal component, thus a degreeof adjustment is effected in two directions. This two-directionaladjustment is important in the next phase of the operation since, asshown in Fig. 15, when roller 392 reaches the end 14 edge 414 of finger396, it will roll off the finger, carrying its associated parts with it.By means of the adjustment just mentioned, the position lengthwise ofthe table at which roller 392 carries pad 378 down into engagement withfold 182 on bar 174 or 176 may thus be determined by adjustmett of screw410. Attention is directed to the relative positions of roller 392 andpad 378. Pad 378 is well in advance of the center of roller 392. Thuspad 378 is in position to fall upon the advanced bar 174 (or 176, dottedin Fig. 17) so that the parts of the catcher may not engage with theother parts of the fold-forming element Now as pad 378 falls as rollers392 leave fingers 396, the fingers fall back to a position determined byscrew 406, or by roller 402 coming to rest on the table top. Pad 378falls upon the particular bar 174 or 176, according to whether theapproach is as in Fig. 16, or as dotted in Fig. 17. Finally, with thepad 176 engaging the fold 182 of cloth upon the particular bar 174 or176, the apparatus comes to a stop as the end portion 416 of the framemember engages an adjusted stop-screw 418 which may be provided in theparticular catcher for that purpose.

In the operation where the carriage is now moved away from theparticular catcher, bar 174 or 176 will remain in its adjusted angularposition, but pad 378 wipes fold 182 off the bar. As element 48 movesfurther, pad 378, by reason of the weight of the bars and its ownresiliency, retains the fold as it is wiped down upon the other piled uplayers (Fig. 17). Continued movement of the carriage away from thatcatcher will finally bring into action the drive from gear 190 to gear212, to rotate bars 174 and 176 properly to bring into a new positionthe necessary bar. Thus, immediately on leaving the catcher at which afold has just been deposited, a new fold is immediately -ormed byfold-forming element 48. It is at this stage that, by reason of therotation of bars, additional material becomes necessary. This additionalmaterial is not obtained by tension directly upon roll 36, but from thesupply built up by tensioning means 44. A loop of fabric, built up fromroll 70 over member 78, is drawn down rapidly merely by pulling arms 76down under the tension of the fabric for that short space of time.Immediately thereafter, the positively driven roll 70, under thistensioning, builds up sufficient fabric to reinstate the loop which hadbeen absorbed by the reversal of element 48.

At the upper end of opening 338, one face 340 ends in an upward slope420. Face 342 ends in a slightly arcuate surface 422. Thus as wheels 344and 346 are pushed to the top of opening 338, they will be turned in thedirection of slope 420. Now only wheels 344 will sup-port all of themoving parts of the catcher which will have attained a verticalposition. Now it is possible to move apparatus, such as the usualcutting knife, into place right up to the ends of the piled up layerswithout removing the catchers from the table after the spreadingoperation has been completed.

Cloth 38 (Fig. 15) is seen to be moving downwardly almostperpendicularly to the table surface. However, it bends around bar 176and then flows around bar 174 in almost a per ect 180 turn. Thisposition is maintained until fold 182 is clamped (Fig. 16). However, asthe foldforming element 48 is reversed, this direction of movement ismerely interchanged between bars 174 and 176, but the relativedirections of travel of the cloth about the bars remain the same.

Many other changes could be effected in the particular constructions,and in the methods of use and construction, and in specific detailsthereof, hereinbefore set forth, without substantially departing fromthe invention intended to be defined herein, the specific descriptionbeing merely of embodiments capable of illustrating certain principlesof the invention.

What is claimed as new and useful is:

1. In a sheet material spreading machine, a carriage movable over asurface upon which sheet material from the carriage is to be spread insuperimposed layers of substantially the same extent, limits fordetermining the extent of'movement of the carriage over the surface, asingle member on the carriage, the member comprising means for receivingthe sheet material threaded therethrough from the carriage and forguiding the sheet material onto the surface to spread it as a layerthereon, the member comprising means for forming a fold in the sheetmaterial being spread and for presenting the fold adjacent the surfaceto which the sheet material is being guided, means for reversing themember to present the fold-forming means in either of two directions,and means to actuate the reversing means substantially immediately asthe carriage commences movement away from a limit and only to the extentnecessary to dispose the foldforming means extending in the directionthe carriage isfmoving away from said limit.

2. Ina sheet material spreading machine, a carriage movable over asurface upon which sheet material from the carriage is to be spread insuperimposed layers of substantially the same extent, limits fordetermining the extent of movement of the carriage over the surface, asingle member on the carriage, the member comprising a pair of spacedapart bars extending transversely of the carriage, the member beingreversible between a pair of limits, the bars being disposed so that atone limit one bar is in advance of the other for forming a fold in thesheet material being spread and for presenting the fold adjacent thesurface to which the sheet material is being guided and on reversal theother bar assumes the foldforming position, means for reversing themember, and means for actuating the reversing means substantallyimmediately as the carriage commences movement away from a limit topresent one or the other selectively so that said selected bar isdirected to form a fold in the direction the carriage is moving awayfrom said limit and substantially continuously throughout movement insaid direction.

- 3. In a sheet material spreading machine, a carriage -movable over asurface upon which sheet material from the carriage is to be spread insuperimposed layers of substantially the same extent, limits fordetermining the extent of movement of the carriage over the surface. asingle member on the carriage, the member comprisi 1g a pair of bars,means for supporting the bars to space them from each other and to holdthem extended transversely of the carriage, means for actuating thesupporting means selectively to present one bar in advance of the otherin the direction of movement of the carriage, and means for energizingthe actuating means after the cat'- riage has reached one of said limitsand as it is moving away from that limit to reverse the bars withrelation to each other in relation to the direction of movement of thecarriage.

4. In a sheet material spreading machine, a carriage movable over asurface upon which sheet material from the carriage is to bespread insuperimposed layers of substantially the same extent, limits fordetermining the extent of movementof the carriage over the surface, asingle memberon theoarriage, the member comprising a pair of bars, meansfor supporting the bars to space them from each other and to hold themextended transversely of the carriage, means for actuating thesupporting means selectively to present one bar lower than the other andin advance of said other bar in the direction of movement of thecarriage, and means for energizing the actuating means after thecarriage has reached one of said limits and as it is moving away fromthat limit a to reverse the bars with relation to each other in relationto the direction of movement of the carriage.

5."In a sheet material spreading machine, a carriage movable over asurface upon which sheet material from the carriage is to be spread insuperimposed layers of substantially the same extent, limits fordetermining the extent of movement of the carriage overthe surface, a

single member on the carriage, the member comprising a pair of bars,means for supporting the bars to space them from each other and to holdthem extended'transversely of the carriage, the supporting means beingmovable between limits to position either one or the other of the barsin aposition lower than the other bar, means for moving the supportingmeans selectively to present one of the bars in advance of the other,and means for energizing the moving means after the carriage has reachedone of said limits to reverse the bars so that the bars alternately arepresented in advance of each other according to the direction of travelas the carriage commences movement from a limit.

6. In a sheet material spreading machine, a carriage movable over asurface upon which sheet material from the carriage is to be spread insuperimposed layers of substantially the same extent, limits fordetermining the extent of movement of the carriage over the'surface, asingle member on the carriage, the member comprising a pair of bars,means for supporting the bars to space them from each other and to holdthem extended transversely of the carriage, the supporting means beingmovable between limits to position either one or the other of the barsin a position closer to the layers of sheet material on the table, meansfor moving the supporting means selectively to present one of the barscloser to the layers of sheet material on the table than and in advanceof the other, and means for energizing the moving means after thecarriage has reached one of said limits to reverse the bars so that thebars alternately are presented in advance of each other as the carriagecommences movement from that limit with one of the bars closer to thelayers of sheet material on the table according to the direction oftravel of the carriage.

7. In a machine for relatively tensionless spreading of sheet materialupon a surface, the machine including a carriage movable over a surfaceupon which sheet material from the carriage is to be spread insuperimposed layers of substantially the same extent, the carriagehaving means for supporting a supply of sheet material, limits fordetermining the extent of movement of the carriage over the surface, asingle member on the carriage, a wrap roll between the supply and themember, a bar, means for balancing the bar for swinging movement, thebar being positioned between the wrap roll and the member, the sheetmaterial being threaded from the supply to the wrap roll and from thewrap roll to the bar and from the bar to the member, the membercomprising means for forming a fold in the sheet material being spreadand for presenting the fold adjacent the surface to which the sheetmaterial is being guided, and means for causing the member to move withrelation to the carriage substantially immediately as the carriagecommences movement away from a limit to cause the fold-forming means toextend the fold being formed thereby in the direction the carriage ismoving away from said limit.

8. In a machine for relatively tensionless spreading of sheet materialupon a surface, the machine including a carriage movable over a surfaceupon which sheet material from the carriage is to be-spread insuperimposed layers'of substantially the same extent, the carriagehaving means for supporting a supply of sheet material, limits fordetermining the extent of movement of the carriage over the surface, asingle member on the carriage, the member comprising means for receivingthe sheet material threaded therethrough from the supply and for guidingthe sheet material onto the surface to spread it as a layer thereon, awrap roll between the supply and the member, a bar, means for balancingthe bar for swinging movement, the bar being positioned between the wraproll and the member, the sheet material being threaded from the supplyto the wrap roll and from the wrap roll to the bar and from the bar tothe member, the member comprising means for forming a fold in the sheetmaterial being spread and'for presenting the fold adjacent the surfaceto which the sheet material is being guided, and

17 means for setting the member to cause the fold-forming means toextend the fold being formed thereby in the direction the carriage ismoving away from a limit.

9. In a machine for relatively tensionless spreading of sheet materialupon a surface, the machine including a carriage movable over a surfaceupon which sheet material from the carriage is to be spread insuperimposed layers of substantially the same extent, the carriagehaving means for supporting a supply of sheet material, limits fordetermining the extent of movement of the carriage over the surface, asingle member on the carriage, a wrap roll between the supply and themember, a bar, means for balancing the bar for swinging movement, thebar being positioned between the wrap roll and the member, the sheetmaterial being threaded from the supply to the wrap roll and from thewrap roll to the bar and from the bar to the member, the membercomprising a pair of spaced apart bars extending transversely of thecarriage, the member being reversible between a pair of limits, the barsbeing disposed so that at one limit one bar is in advance of the otherfor forming a fold in the sheet material being spread and for presentingthe fold adjacent the surface to which the sheet material is beingguided and on reversal the other bar assumes the fold-forming position,means for reversing the member, and means for actuating the reversingmeans substantially immediately as the carriage commences movement awayfrom a limit to present one or the other selectively so that saidselected bar is directed to form a fold in the direction the carriage ismoving away from said limit and substantially continuously throughoutmovement in such direction.

10. In a machine for relatively tensionless spreading of sheet materialupon a surface, the machine including a carriage movable over a surfaceupon which sheet material from the carriage is to be spread insuperimposed layers of substantially the same extent, the carriagehaving means for supporting a supply of sheet material, limits fordetermining the extent of movement of the carriage over the surface, asingle member on the carriage, a wrap roll between the supply and themember, a bar, means for balancing the bar for swinging movement, thebar being positioned between the wrap roll and the member, the membercomprising a pair of bars, the member bars extending transversely of thecarriage and being spaced from each other, the member being reversiblebetween a pair of limits, the sheet material being threaded from thesupply to the wrap roll, then to the balanced bar, and then between andaround both of said member bars, the member bars providing meansalternately for forming a fold in the sheet material being spread andfor presenting the fold adjacent the surface to which the sheet materialis being guided, and means for setting the member selectively to makethe member bars alternately effective to form a fold in the guided sheetmaterial substantially immediately as the carriage commences movementaway from a limit and according to the direction of movement of thecarriage, the member bars constituting means to feed the guided sheetmaterial substantially continuously in the direction the carriage ismoving away from said limit.

11. In a machine for relatively tensionless spreading of sheet materialupon a surface, the machine including a carriage movable over a surfaceupon which sheet material from the carriage is to be spread insuperimposed layers of substantially the same extent, the carriagehaving means for supporting a supply of sheet material, limits fordetermining the extent of movement of the carriage over the surface, asingle member on the carriage, a wrap roll between the supply and themember, a bar, means for balancing the bar for swinging movement, thebar being positioned between the wrap roll and the member, the membercomprising a pair of bars, means supporting the member bars spaced fromeach other and extending transversely of the carriage, means forreversing the supporting means to position one or the other of themember bars closely adjacent the surface to form a fold in the sheet 18material and to present the fold immediately adjacent the surface, thesheet material being threaded from the supply to the wrap roll, then tothe balanced bar, and then between the member bars, and means foractuating the reversing means to select the one or the other of themember bars effective to form a fold in the guided sheet materialsubstantially immediately as the carriage commences movement away from alimit in accordance with the limit from which the carriage is moving,the member bars comprising means to feed the guided sheet materialsubstantially continuously in the direction the carriage is moving awayfrom said limit.

12. In a sheet material spreading machine,-a carriage movable over asurface upon which sheet material from the carriage is to be spread insuperimposed layers of substantially the same extent, the carriagehaving means for supporting a supply of sheet material, limits fordetermining the extent of movement of the carriage over the surface,vertically adjustable carrier means at the sides of the carriage, rockerarms pivotally mounted on the carrier means, a pair of rods secured toand extending between the rocker arms, the rocker arms and the rodsbeing rotatable, limits for determining the position of the rods at theend of such rotation, one rod being adjacent the superimposed layers andbelow and in advanceof the other of the pair, at one limit and the otherrod assuming that relationship at the other limit the sheet materialbeing extended from the supply between the rods to the layers disposedupon the surface, the advanced rod providing means for forming a fold inthe sheet material adjacent the superimposed layers on the surface, andmeans for rotating the rocker arms alternately to the limits.

13. In a sheet material spreading machine, a carriage movable over asurface upon which sheet material from the carriage is to be spread insuperimposed layers of substantially the same extent, the carriagehaving means for supporting a supply of sheet material, limits fordetermining the extent of movement of the carriage over the surface,vertically adjustable carrier means at the sides of the carriage, rockerarms pivotally mounted on the carrier means, a pair of rods secured toand extending between the rocker arms, the rocker arms and the rodsbeing rotatable, and a single limit for the rotation of the arms thelimit determining the position of the rods at the end of rotation ineither direction one rod being adjacent the superimposed layers andbelow and in advance of the other rod at one end of rotation and theother rod assuming that relationship at the other end of rotation, thesheet material being extended from the supply between the rods to thelayers disposed upon the surface, the advanced rod providing means forforming a fold in the sheet material adjacent the superimposed layers onthe surface, and means for rotating the rocker arms alternately to thelimits.

14. In a sheet material spreading machine, a carriage movable over asurface upon which sheet material from the carriage is to be spread insuperimposed layers of substantially the same extent, the carriagehaving means for supporting a supply of sheet material, limits for determining the extent of movement of the carriage over the surface, afold-forming member carried by the carriage, the member including a pairof bars extending transversely of the carriage with one of the barsadvanced in the direction of movement of the carriage and disposed belowand closer to the surface than the other bar, means for impartingrotation to the bars, the rotation-imparting means being normallyinoperative, and means for actuating the rotation-imparting means asthe-carriage moves up to and comes within a predetermined distance tothe limit, the activating means including lost motion means to preventrotation of the rotation-imparting means during the last part of themovement as the carriage comes up to said limit but to cause rotation ofthe rotation-imparting means as the carriage thereafter moves away fromthat limit.

l5.In a sheet'material spreading machine, a carriage movable over asurface upon which sheet material from the carriage is to be spread insuperimposed layers of substantially the same extent, the carriagehaving means for supporting a supply of sheet material, limits-fordetermining the extent of movement of the carriage over the surface, afold-forming member carried by the carriage, the member including a pairof bars extending transverse- 1y of the carriage with one of the barsadvanced in the direction of movement of, the carriage and disposedbelow and closer to the surface than the other bar, means for impartingrotation to the bars, the rotation-imparting means being normallyinoperative, and means for activat- 'ing the rotation-imparting means asthe carriage moves up to and comes within a predetermined distance tothe limit, the activating means including lost motion means to preventrotation of the rotation-imparting means during the last part of themovement as the carriage comes up to said limit but to cause rotation ofthe rotation-imparting means as the carriage thereafter moves away fromthat limit, the rotation-imparting means comprising means to-rotate thebars as the carriage moves away from that limit and positioning theother bar in the advanced and lower position for the new direction ofmovement.

16. In a sheet material spreading machine, a carriage movable over asurface upon which sheet material from the carriage is to be spread insuperimposed layers of substantially the same extent, the carriagehaving means for supporting a supply of sheet material, limits fordetermining the extent of movement of the carriage over the surface, afold-forming member carried by the carriage, the member including a pairof bars extending transversely of the carriage with one of the barsadvanced in the direction of movement of the carriage and disposed belowand closer to the surface than the other bar, means for impartingrotation to the bars, the rotation-imparting means being normallyinoperative, means for activating the rotation-imparting means as thecarriage moves up to and comes within a predetermined distance to thelimit, the activating means including lost motion means to preventrotation of the rotation-imparting means during the last part of themovement as the carriage comes up to said limit but to cause rotation ofthe rotation-imparting means as the carriage thereafter moves away fromthat limit, the rotation-imparting means comprising means to rotate thebars as'the carriage moves away from a limit and to position theothervbar in the advanced and lower position for the new direction ofmovement, and means for disengaging the activating means onpredetermined rotation of the bars.

-17. In a sheet material spreading machine, a carriage movable over asurface upon which sheet material from the carriage is to be spread insuperimposed layers of substantially the same extent, the carriagehaving means for supporting'a supply'of sheet material, limits fordetermining the extent of movement of the carriage over the surface, afold-forming member carried by the carriage, the member including a pairof bars of substantially convexly rounded cross-section, the barsextending transversely of the carriage with one of the bars advanced inthe direction of movement of the carriage and disposed below and closerto the surface than the other bar, means at each of the limits forengaging a fold of sheet material upon the advanced bar and for wipingthe fold oif the bar as the carriage moves'the bar away from the limit,means for imparting rotation to the bars, the rotation-imparting meansbeing normally inoperative, and means for activating therotationrimparting means as the carriage moves up to and comes within apredetermined distance to thetlimit, the activating means including lostmotion means -to prevent rotation of the rotation-imparting means duringthe last parttofzthe movement as the carriage comesup to saidlimitbut tocause. rotation of theretationdmparting means as ,thecarriagethereattermoves away from a limit,

18. In a sheet material spreading machine, a carriage movable over asurface upon which sheet material from the carriage is to be spread insuperimposed layers'of substantially the same extent, the carriagehaving means for supporting a supply of sheet material, limits fordetermining the extent of movement of the carriage over the surface, afold-forming member carried by the carriage, the member including a pairof bars substantially circular in cross-section, the barsextendingtransversely of ,the carriage withlone of the bars advancedinthedirection of movement of the carriageand disposed below and closer tothe surface thanthe other bar, means at eachof ,the limits for engaginga fold of sheet material upon the advanced bar andvfor wiping thetfoldoff the. bar 'asthe carriage moves the bar away from the limit, meansfor imparting rotation to the bars, the rotation-imparting means beingnormally inoperative, and means for activating the rotation-impartingmeans as the carriage moves up to and comes within a predetermineddistance to the lirnit, the activating means including lost motion meansto prevent rotation of the rotation-imparting means during the last partof the movement as the carriage comes up to said limit but to causerotation of the rotation-imparting means after the fold-engaging meanshas wiped the fold off the extended bar as the carriage thereafter movesaway from a limit.

19. In a sheet material spreading machine, a carriage movable over asurface upon which sheet material from the carriage is to, be spread insuperimposed layers of substantially the same extent, the carriagehaving means for supporting a supply of sheet material, limits fordetermining the extent of movement of the carriage over the surface, afold-forming member carried by the carriage, including a pair of bars,the bars extending transversely of the carriage with one of the'barsadvanced in-thedirection of movement of'the carriage and disposed belowand closer to the surface than the other bar, means at each of thelimits for engaging a fold of sheet material upon the advanced bar andfor wiping the fold off the bar as the carriage moves the bar away fromthe limit, means for imparting rotation to the bars, therotation-imparting means being normally inoperative, and means foractivating the rotation-imparting means as the carriage moves up to andcomes within a predetermined distance to the limit, theractivating meansincluding lost motion means to prevent rotation of therotation-imparting means during the last part of the movement asthecarriage comes up 'to said limit but to cause rotation of theyrotation-imparting means after the fold-engaging means haswiped the foldoff the-extended bar as the carriage thereafter moves away from. alimit, the activating means comprising means to cause therotation-imparting means to rotate the bars immediately after thefold-engaging means has wiped the fold off the extended bar as" thecarriage moves away from the limit and position the other bar in thelower position and advanced in the new direction of movement.

20. In a sheet material spreading machine, a carriage movable overa-surface upon which sheet material from the carriage is to be spread insuperimposed layers of substantially the same'extent, the carriagehaving means for supporting a supply of sheet material, limits fordetermining the extent of movement of the carriage over thesurface, afold-forming member carried by the carriage, the membervincluding a pairof bars of substantially convexlyrounded cross-section, the barsextending transversely of the carriage with one of the bars advanced. inthe direction of movement ofthe carriage and disposed below and closerto-the surface than the other bar, meansat each of the limitsforengaging a fold of'sheetmaterial upon the advanced bar and for wipingthe fold offjthe bar as the carriage movesthe bar away from the limit,the fold-engaging means including a flat facedmember to come to restupon the advanced bar, means for. imparting rotationto the bars,therotation-imparting means being normally inoperative, and means foractivati-ng ,thel rotation imparting means as thecarriage moves up toand comes within a predetermined distance to the limit, the activatingmeans including lost motion means to prevent rotation of therotation-imparting means during the last part of the movement as thecarriage comes up to said limit but to cause rotation of therotation-imparting means as the carriage thereafter moves away from alimit.

21. In a sheet material spreading machine, a carriage movable over asurface upon which sheet material from the carriage is to be spread insuperimposed layers of substantially the same extent, the carriagehaving means for supporting a supply of sheet material, limits fordetermining the extent of movement of the carriage over the surface, afold-forming member carried by the carriage, the member including a pairof bars of substantially convexly rounded cross-section, the barsextending transversely of the carriage with one of the bars advanced inthe direction of movement of the carriage and disposed below and closerto the surface than the other bar, means at each of the limits forengaging a fold of sheet material upon the advanced bar and for wipingthe fold off the bar as the carriage moves the bar away from the limit,the fold-engaging means including a fiat faced member having a facing offriction material, the facing being disposed to come to rest upon theadvanced bar, means for imparting rotation to the bars, therotation-imparting means being normally inoperative, and means foractivating the rotation-imparting means as the carriage moves up to andcomes within a predetermined distance to the limit, the activating meansincluding lost motion means to prevent rotation of therotation-imparting means during the last part of the movement as thecarriage comes up to said limit but to cause rotation of therotation-imparting means as the carriage thereafter moves away from alimit.

22. In a machine for relatively tensionless spreading of sheet materialupon a surface, the machine including a carriage movable over a surfaceupon which sheet material from the carriage is tobe spread insuperimposed layers of substantially the same extent, at least one wheelcarried by the carriage and rotated by contact with the surface as thecarriage moves over the surface, the carriage having means forsupporting a supply of sheet material, limits for determining the extentof movement of the carriage over the surface, a single member on thecarriage, a wrap roll between the supply and the member, a bar, meansfor balancing the bar for swinging movement, the bar being positionedbetween the wrap roll and the member, the sheet material being threadedfrom the supply to the wrap roll and from the wrap roll to the bar andthen to the member, the member comprising means for forming a fold inthe sheet material being spread and for presenting the fold adjacent thesurface to which the sheet material is being guided, means for movingthe member substantially immediately as the carriage commences movementaway from a limit to direct the fold-forming means in the direction thecarriage is moving away from said limit, and means driven by the wheelfor rotating the wrap roll continuously in one direction and forenergizing the member-moving means.

23. In a machine for relatively tensionless spreading of sheet materialupon a surface, the machine including a carriage movable over a surfaceupon which sheet material from the carriage is to be spread insuperimposed layers of substantially the same extent, the carriagehaving means for supporting a supply of sheet material, limits fordetermining the extent of movement of the carriage over the surface, asingle member on the carriage, the member comprising means for forming afold in the sheet material being spread and for presenting the foldadjacent the surface to which the sheet material is being guided, meansbetween the supply and the member for'imparting positive feeding forceto the sheet material for drawing it from the supply and delivering itto the member, means for moving the member substantially immediately asthe carriage commences movement 22 away from a limit to direct thefold-forming means in the direction the carriage is moving away fromsaid limit, a wheel driven by movement of the carriage over the surface,means for coupling the wheel to the positive-feeding-force means to feedsheet material always in the same direction whichever direction thecarriage may be moving, and means for coupling the wheel to drive themember-moving means for only a short portion of the movement of thecarriage in moving away from a finished fold at a limit of travel.

24. In a machine for relatively tensionless spreading of sheet materialupon a surface, the machine including a carriage movable over a surfaceupon which sheet material from the carriage is to be spread insuperimposed layers of substantially the same extent, the carriagehaving means for supporting a supply of sheet material, limits fordetermining the extent of movement of the carriage over the surface, asingle member on the carriage, the member comprising means for forming afold in the sheet material being spread and for presenting the foldadjacent the surface to which the sheet material is being guided, meansbetween the supply and the member for imparting positive feeding forceto the sheet material for drawing it from the supply and delivering itto the member, means for moving the member substantially immediately asthe carriage commences movement away from a limit to direct thefold-forming means in the direction the carriage is moving away fromsaid limit, a wheel driven by movement of the carriage over the surface,means for coupling the wheel to the positive-feedingforce means to feedsheet material always in the same direction whichever direction thecarriage may be moving, and means made effective when the carriage is atthe end of its travel toward one of the limits for coupling the wheel tothe member-moving means to cause the member to reverse its position in ashort portion of the movement of the carriage to the direction of newmove ment of the carriage as the carriage draws the sheet material awayfrom said limit.

25. In a sheet material spreading machine, a carriage for movement backand forth over a table, a fold-forming member, the member beingsupported on the carriage to be reversible and for positioning to directa fold of material in the direction the carriage is moving over thetable, means for reversing the member to position it to direct the foldbeing formed thereby in the direction of movement of the carriage, thereversing means including a gear, a shaft carrying a pinion, meansdriven according to the direction of movement of the carriage forrotating the shaft, means for moving the pinion and the gear intoengagement, the moving means including a resiliently retracted element,catch means for holding the moving means so that gear and pinion mayremain engaged, and means to make the catch means ineffective when thecarriage has moved sufiiciently to reverse the member.

26. In a sheet material spreading machine, a carriage for movement backand forth over a table, a fold-forming member, the member beingsupported on the carriage to be reversible and for positioning to directa fold of material in the direction the carriage is moving over thetable, means for reversing the member to position it to direct the foldbeing formed thereby in the direction of movement of the carriage, thereversing means including a gear, a shaft carrying a pinion, meansdriven according to the direction of movement of the carriage forrotating the shaft, means for moving the pinion and the gear intoengagement, the pinion and the shaft having means to permit limitedrotation of the shaft without effecting rotation of the gear, the movingmeans including a resiliently retracted element, catch means for holdingthe moving means so that gear and pinion may remain engaged, and meansto make the catch means ineffective when the carriage has movedsufficiently to reverse the member.

being rotatablyimounted on the carriage, and stop means on the carriagetolirnit rotation of the supports, the stop means being positioned sothat the bars, when the supports are against the stops means, will belocated one below the other but thetlower onein advance of the upperone-inthe direction of movement of the carriage.

28. In' a sheet material spreading machine, a-carriage .for movementback and forth over atable; a fold-forming member, means for mountingthe member on the carriage for rotation with relation to the, carriage,the member comprising a pair of bars, the mounting means including apair ofsupports for the bars, the supports being rotatahly mounted onthe carriage, and stop means on the carriage to limit rotation of thesupports, the stop vmeans being positioned so that the bars, when thesupports are against the stop means, will be located one below the otherbut the lower one in advance of the upper onein'the direction ofmovement of the carriage, a clamp plate mounted for movement withrelation to the table, and an elevating device on the carriage orlifting the clamp plate relatively to thetable, the device beingpositioned so that the clamp plate may fall upon and engage sheetmaterial disposed around the advanced and lower bar.

References Cited in thefile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 630,189Dauvergne .Aug. 1, 1899 1,333,459 Soylian Mar. 9, 1920 2,162,879 Brethd, June 20, v.1939 2,442,352 Gilbert V.. .Iune 1, 1948 2,539,722 Booth'Jan. 30, }1951 2,615,712 Springer Oct. 28, 1952 2,732,202 Obedin Jan.24,1956

' FOREIGN PATENTS 963 Great Britain Jan.12,119-,l2 of 1912 666,426 GreatBritain Feb. 13, 1952

